St. Robert Bellarmine

Born: October 4, 1542

Died: September 17, 1621

Canonized: June 29, 1930, by Pope Pius XI

Feast Day: September 17

Patron Saint of: canonists, catechists

Roberto Francesco Romolo Bellarmino was born in Montepulciano, Italy, on the
4th of October 1542. He joined the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, and was later
made Cardinal and Archbishop of Capua. He was famous throughout Europe as a
teacher, preacher, theologian and as a strenuous defender of the faith against
Protestantism. His numerous writings include works of devotion, instruction and
defense against scientific-based contradictions to the faith. Saint Robert
Bellarmine was canonized in 1930 and was declared a Doctor of the Universal
Church in 1931.